"I'm sure you can understand our financial predicament." Vivian speaks like we're in a business meeting. "She's indebted to the company, along with the debt her brother Jero leveraged against her."

"Why don't you ask him to join us?" I say as I straighten up.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. He's being detained as collateral until she's paid back what's owed."

"If this was about money, you'd just ask me to write a check," I seethe, waiting for her to get to the fucking point. "So why ...